Clyde Zeilinger was born in Nebraska, October 20, 1891 to John F. and Clara M. Zeilinger. He was in the Nebraska National Guard for three years before enrolling in the WWI draft. He served on the Mexican border, June 1916 to January 1917, then began training to serve in the medical corp. According to an article that appeared in the People's Banner, June 5, 1919, Clyde was captured by the German army and held as a prisoner of war along with 140 other soldiers. He was serving as a medic and giving first aid in the Argonne Forrest in France at the time. He was released two weeks later. Clyde was discharged from the army May 29, 1919. He died in 1961 and is buried in the David City Cemetery.